Friday, April 29, 2011

Saturday Snippet 6 : On Friday :)


I'm posting early because we're doing an impromptu trip here. The weather is gorgeous and my camera is ready! See all of you on Sunday!
Lori, this quote is for you♥  Photo taken at Point Lobos, Carmel California. (Butterfly added later.)
(click to embiggen)

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Animal Wednesday: penguins today and a tropical birdie


I always think of penguins as being bigger, like five feet tall. Especially Emperor penguins like the ones in the documentary, "march of the penguins." 
At least this exhibit wasn't bad. The penguins seemed happy and well loved. They all have colored arm bands so the viewers can read about who's who.


This guy looks like he has a friend stuck on his back, hence the commentary!


Hmmm, should I go for a dip?


This is the old timer. He stole my heart.


hey, who's behind me?
They're sure cute little things! 


This beauty was in the tropical enclosure. It was hot and humid in there. All us middle-aged women couldn't take the heat!!!
This bird kept flying directly above me and I just kept clicking away. At least I got this one shot where he isn't just a blur!
Does anyone know what he is? He's really the only thing I spotted in there.
Next week will be elephants and the giraffe :)

Happy Animal Wednesday!

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Saturday Snippet 5


~Easter and Passover blessings to those of you who celebrate them~
XO

These Buddhist prayer flags are waving in the soft breeze at my friend's house in Carmel Valley.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Animal Wednesday: Spit Happens


We all know how camels, llamas and alpacas can and DO spit at people, but these two were very well behaved. My camera lens wasn't a target, at least that day.
This guy was a riot! So friendly and curious. 


Such a poser!


Their feet fascinate me. They're like discs on the bottom with no indication of those two toes. And they seem so fluid! Just plain weird.


Don't forget to embiggen all these photos :)


You talkin' to me???


This darker guy was a bit more shy.


hahaha! Can you read the words?


Awwwwwww. Camel ♥ love

Happy Animal Wednesday!

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Saturday Snippet 4


Hmmm, I think Saturday Snippets will be a regular gig as long as I keep making these mini prints. I just love creating them and finding the perfect quote to match my images.

(Click to embiggen)

Happy weekend!
xo
Lo  

Photo taken at The Phoenix Shop at Nepenthe, Big Sur, CA

Friday, April 15, 2011

Illustration Friday: Journey


As she set out on her solo journey by lantern light, her friends stayed close by to ensure her safety.

For Illustration Friday: journey

This is my winning entry for a poster contest in 2005 for a festival in Pacific Grove, CA

Today is hubby's birthday so I had to pull something from my archives because I'm busy making dinner for friends. I had forgotten all about this piece which I so enjoyed doing!
I hope you enjoy it too! I had to print the PDF and then scan the copy. This is the best I could do.

Happy weekend!
xo

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Twilight In The Lavender



The "boss of me" cracked the whip today and made me finish the bunny I started last week. It really went through a transition! When I started it, it looked like an angry something-or-other but NOT a bunny! So today I put away my references and just painted by intuition. He has a soft look, almost as if he's being lulled by the scent of the lavender field. I know I would be!
For now I'll list him on Etsy while I decide which shop should have him.

Cold, pouring rainy poopy day here in Barrington :(
But we need the rain to make the lavender grow!♥
xoxo

Animal Wednesday: Ain't nobody here but us chickens...






...and Crowned Cranes,




And the always elegant Sandhill Cranes.




I especially love this shot from above through the bare branches. It has an Asian art feel to it. Just add softly falling snow....NO, forget the snow!
These are a few shots I took at Roger Williams Park Zoo last week.
Be sure to enlarge the photos.
Next week I'll show a group of...stay tuned!

Happy Animal Wednesday!

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Blooming Tuesday: Poppy Dish






No, I haven't disappeared from the face of the earth or from blogging!
I'm trying to put in a certain amount of hours per day making art for the various shops I'm in. I have to equate this with showing up for work, and all things considered I like doing it. And I'm the boss of me!!

This is another little paper clay trinket dish I listed on Etsy. When it was dry the shape reminded me of a poppy the way they flatten out. That's how I determine what to paint inside these little guys. I didn't add any gold leaf to this one so it took a little less time.

And if you have never seen this version of the Wizard of Oz, you must get your hands on a copy! Lisbeth Zwerger is one of my favorite illustrators.

Happy Tuesday!
xo
Lo♥

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Illustration Friday: Bottled


Bottled Season~ings


This was a bit of a tough one for me. At first (because I didn't pay attention) I thought the word was "bottle." So I went around my day thinking of "out of the box" ideas for the word. But then I saw a friend posted her entry and she used the word "bottled." AAAggghhh! That's different!
This is all my brain could come up with without resorting to the obvious.
I spent the day at the zoo. Maybe I should have just stayed with the monkeys a while longer!

Happy Monday (by the time you see this!)
xo
Lo♥

for Illustration Friday: bottled
watercolor, micron pens

Saturday, April 09, 2011

Saturday Snippet 3


Oh, how true!
This photo was taken on a trip to Provincetown when I first met KJ and Debra Kay.
I think this was the most well behaved Italian Greyhound I'd ever met.
Sweet as can be, and so smart!
Don't you just love her shadow friend?

Happy Saturday everyone!
xo
Lo♥

Wednesday, April 06, 2011

Animal Wednesday: The Eyes Have It!


Some of you have already seen these via email, but I felt compelled to share them with others ;)

Doesn't Emma look like some kind of wild dog with the sun hitting that one eye?? Freaky! (And she IS wild!)


And this was taken the same day after Bliss reclaimed her bed from wild dog!
Doesn't she have the most beautiful, bluest eyes?
I'm so grateful for her recovery. And she's down a little more than five pounds!! Wooo-hoooo! We've worked very diligently and carefully to reduce her weight.
If only I liked cat food, I could be my thin self again!

HAW to all of you!!
xo♥

Sunday, April 03, 2011

Illustration Friday" Duet


I feel as though I've been missing in action lately. I'll stop by and post a quickie, but I don't often have the time to see what others have been up to.
So today as I was running around delivering card orders and whatever else, I thought I'd just STOP and get centered.
Aaaah, Illustration Friday was calling to me!
When I heard the word was "duet", I immediately thought of a whale sow and her calf.
I'm deathly afraid of water because I can't swim, yet I feel I'd die if I were ever too far from it.
Hmmm, deep waters for another time!

Please click on this link to hear the most wonderful version of Amazing Grace with the duets of our Humpback Whale friends singing with Cecilia.
The site is my friend Teresa Wagner's, a wonderful animal communicator and kindred spirit I had the great pleasure meeting during my time in California.


This illustration is an acrylic painting on patterned (very thin) paper with colored pencil details which I had hoped would take me half the time it did. Oh well, I just love whales and I was into it!

Happy Weekend dear friends.
xoxo
Lolo♥

Saturday, April 02, 2011

Saturday Snippet 2


Photograph taken in the zen gardens of WA in Provincetown, MA.
If you ever get there, be sure to stop in this magical store with Asian decor and items for the home and garden.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Animal Wednesday: Duck, Duck, Hubcap??




A couple of weeks ago Brian and I took a little day trip to The Fuller Craft Museum.
I was curious to see it because it used to be Fuller Memorial Art Museum where I won honorable mention for my portrait of Picasso thirty years ago!
Now it houses some of the finest crafts my artisans around the country.
This artist is famous for recyling hubcaps and other machine parts for his art.
C'mon, I'll show you a few things that caught my eye.
Be sure to enlarge the pics to see the details.



This amazing armoire was hand carved on the front doors, and the inside was so meticulousy painted you would have sworn it was wallpaper.



Look at this elegant hand carved dog table made out of mahogany and glass.
I don't know what wood the bones were made out of. But can you imagine the presicion the craftsman had to have to make it even??



This well put together lady greets you at the door. She's made by the same artist who made the duck.
I wonder how much trouble she has getting a bra to fit?


This chair was amazing! So sleek, and the inlays are sterling silver. Made by a woman!!
I didn't have anything to write on, otherwise I'd be giving credit to each artisan.



Delicate bowls made from real leaves. Wow. I thought of Mim and her paper bowls.




This lady seriously needs decaf!
She hand-builds these colorful sculptures to show the way water moves around the world. There are tiny signs in all of them with weather terms, etc.
The large wall made me dizzy! I can only imagine how many hours it took to install these. And they'll all have to be taken apart to pack it up. Wow!
There was an entire room full of them but I didn't want to shoot them all. It's one of those things you need to get up close to, anyway.





There were familiar sculptures that were there when it used to be the art museum.


And finally, I'll leave you with this whimsical giraffe lighthouse for today.
Happy Animal Wednesday!!